Blog post
Mid-Term Workshop Governing SDG Interactions in East-Africa
In a three-day event, taking place from March 4-6, 2024, we brought together researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from across East Africa to discuss progress on the Governing SDG Interactions in East-AFrica Project. The central question in the project is about synergies and trade-offs between the SDGs and how these can be governed (www.wur.eu/sdgs).
Organized by Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), with funding from the Government of the Netherlands, the meeting included a Research Day (sharing preliminary findings from the PhD research), an Impact Day (engaging with producers and policymakers from the Kenyan dairy sector - see picture below) and a Field Trip day (visiting a female youth dairy farmer and the impressive Fresha dairy cooperative).
Research Day
The introduction of the midterm review meeting for the project began with a recap of prior engagements, starting from June 16, 2021, when the Dutch Research Council announced funding for three studies on the interaction between Sustainable Development Goals. Seven PhD candidates have been working on their research proposals, which by now have been finalized and approved, and they have started fieldwork, from which the preliminary findings were presented and discussed.
Impact Day
During the stakeholder engagement dialogue, participants actively interacted with each other to gain valuable insights and collaboratively propose strategies aimed at addressing challenges related to understanding SDG interactions at the local and national level. This interactive session fostered an exchange of diverse perspectives and experiences among stakeholders, facilitating a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in SDG governance. By engaging in constructive dialogue, stakeholders were able to exchange ideas on challenges and solutions tailored to the specific context of East Africa, thus contributing to the overall goal of enhancing SDG implementation in the region. By delving into various levels of governance, from the global scale down to the local community level, the breakout sessions provided a comprehensive examination of SDG interactions and strategies for effective governance.
Field Trip Day
During the field trip to Kiambu, Kenya, participants gained practical insights into the dynamics of SDG interactions within the dairy sector and observed the installations and organization of dairy collection and processing by the Fresha Dairy cooperative, as well as dairy farming practices in the area.
They had the opportunity to engage directly with a dairy farmer, witnessing how sustainable practices contribute to SDG objectives such as zero hunger, good health and well-being, and responsible consumption and production. Additionally, participants learned about the role of technology and innovation in enhancing productivity while minimizing environmental impact, aligning with SDG goals related to industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
In sum, three full and exciting days with a crowd from Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa and the Netherlands, creating new energy and inspiration for driving the research and impact activities forward!